Displaying items by tag: Carlingford Lough Yacht Club

3rd October 2022

SB20 'So-Brr!' Wins at Carlingford Lough Yacht Club Cruiser Regatta

The last big event of the cruiser racing calendar at Carlingford Lough Yacht Club took place on the last weekend in September and drew an entry of nine boats from all around the Lough.

Carlingford Lough lies between the south Co Down coast and the north coast of Co. Louth.

Three races were scheduled for each day, with the main prize being the Claire McCann Whitesail Trophy.

As spinnakered boats are not eligible to race for that trophy, the competitors had to make the decision whether to fly a spinnaker and be in with a chance of winning overall or should they keep the big sail down below and have a chance of winning the Claire McCann Trophy?

Some of the Spinnaker and Whitesail yachts in action at the Carlingford Lough Yacht Club Cruiser Regatta

Saturday’s racing was exciting with a lumpy Northerly wind, and after three races, Ron Finegan’s SB20, So-Brr! scored three first places, closely followed by Gerry Byrne’s Gibsea 312 SD, Atlantic Diva with three-second places overall.

In the Claire McCann Trophy races, Tom Kearney’s Beneteau 25 Platu Supersonic picked up three first places, followed by Tim Gibbons’ J80 Warrior.

The crew of Supersonic with the Claire McCann Trophy raced for as part of the Carlingford Lough Yacht Club Cruiser Regatta

Sunday’s races were raced in an even livelier 10 – 18 knots from the northwest. Ron Finegan scored two-second places and a first in his SB20, making him the overall winner.

In the Whitesail class, Tom Kearney finished with six first places in his Beneteau 25 Platu, Supersonic, making him the clear winner of the Claire McCann Trophy.

Results are below

Published in Northern Ireland Waters

Tagged under

Carlingford Lough Yacht Club

28th July 2021

Royal St. George's O'Connor on Top as SB20s Hit the Heat in Northerns at Carlingford

"We'd an amazing weekend at Carlingford Marina for the SB20 Ireland Northern Championships", reports Irish SB20 President John Malone of Lough Ree YC

Conditions were perfect on the very beautiful Carlingford Lough. There was wall-to-wall sunshine and a good enough breeze to make for some very competitive racing, and the wind direction even made it possible for the Start/Finish line to be right in front of the Marina to give everyone ashore a great view of the racing on both days.

We want to say a massive well done and heartfelt thanks to Carlingford Sailing Club for their organisation of the racing. Carlingford Marina worked closely with Carlingford Sailing Club in the months leading up to the event, and the Carlingford Marina involvement included everything from the lifting and launching operations for the SB20s, towing the boats to their berths, reserving wet berths for competitors, and providing storage for the road trailers in the Boat Yard.

"Welcome to Carlingford" – Carlingford Marina provided an ideal base

On the hospitality side of things, there was festive Pig on the Spit (thank you Jonathan) for the competitors, and a Guinness and Oysters (Carlingford of course) reception by Harry Jordan as crews came off the water. As well, the lovely staff in Rabelo Restaurant kept the racers fed and watered at other time all weekend in a gargantuan effort, for not only were they looking after the race competitors and spectators, but they did it while still providing their exceptional café and bar service to their regular weekend customers.

Carlingford SC Commodore Ainne Gorman, Race Officer Pat McCormick, and Ron Finegan on Sailing Club/Marina liaison kept everything running smoothly afloat and ashore in a shared vision with the Class Association, and the resulting accomplishment was even better than we'd fondly imagined in anticipation.

As to the sailing, a weekend of Lake Garda style-weather and racing was experienced with the steady Southeastly kicking in as forecast each morning after overnight northerly or variable breezes.

Although there were spring tides, race officer Pat McCormick set courses inshore as much out of the stream as possible, making the racing user-friendly for competitors and spectators alike.

Michael O'Connor from Dun Laoghaire initially had it all his own way for three wins on Saturday, but Day 2 saw the chasing pack unlock the O'Connor dominance, with the Wexford-based Doran family on LowFly (Doran Family) taking two bullets in Races 4 & 6. In Race 5, it was Cork's turn, with Mel Collins on Gold Digger taking the bullet.

The Doran family from Wexford took two wins on Sunday, and finished third overall.

But despite everyone else's best efforts, the O'Connor squad in Team Ted did enough on Sunday to retain their overnight overall lead – in fact, they did it in in some style, as their discard as a third.

El Presidente John Malone had managed a personal race best in the second contest on Saturday to get a second, and this contributed to his winning of the Silver Fleet As for the class's future, this is one tough and experienced challenge for young helms to contemplate, but the bare scoreboard doesn't tell it all – 18-year-old Ben Graf of Lough Ree with Glasson Farm Bango was often right there even if his race best in the final tally was a fourth, and 13-year-old Lucy Ives seemed set to take second in Race 6 before being cruelly caught in seaweed.

Despite the inevitable individual instances of personal setback, this was an idyllic event in perfect conditions in one of the loveliest sailing locations in Ireland, and the SB20 class will cherish the memory of a very complete sailing hospitality package.

The final scorecard revealed overall winner Michael O'Connor (Royal St George YC) as having the luxury of discarding a third

Published in SB20

Tagged under

14th August 2014

Carlingford IDRA14 Nationals Taken By O'Neill & O'Hara

#idra14 – The IDRA14 National Championships at Carlingford Lough concluded on Sunday. A good representation from Royal St. George, DMYC, Clontarf Y&BC and Sutton Dinghy Club saw eighteen crews attending. Results sheet downloadable below.

Pat O'Neill and Jim O'Hara (pictured) of Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club sailed to an almost perfect score of 6 points with 4 bullets over the 6 races on board Delos II.
Second overall were former National Champions Alan Henry and Simon Revill of Sutton Dinghy Club scoring 12 points on board "Sunshine"
In third place just one point behind were Julie Ascoop and Heather Keenan of DMYC sailing "Chaos"
In the Silver fleet former Class Commodore Stephen Harrison took line honours along with crew Stephen Johnston on board "Squalls" also sailing out of DMYC.
In the Crew's Race Calum Maher of Sutton Dinghy Club was first home. Star of the future potentially.
Race Officer Ian Sargent with support from Carlingford SC volunteers ran 7 races over 3 days in sometimes very challenging conditions.
The IDRA14 Class wishes to acknowledge the great welcome, hospitality and assistance shown to members both on and off the water by all member of Carlingford Sailing Club. Vice Commodore Erin Finnegan has invited the class to return with the event again in the future.

Published in Racing

Tagged under

28th July 2009

Carlingford Lough Yacht Club

Why not join CLYC in 2009?

It's more than fifty years since CLYC started sailing on Carlingford Lough. You too can enjoy sailing and boating in 2009 by simply joining CLYC. It's easy, just download a membership form from the website or ask Catherine McDonagh (or any committee member) to send you one. Click here to download

How much will it cost?
To join CLYC you only pay the annual membership fee. There is no joining fee.
Membership fees are as follows:
Family Sailing £310
Single Sailing £200
Family Social £130
Single Social £65
Country Member £65
* Must already be a member of another club
Cadet £50
Bridge Member £45

What are the benefits?
Learn to sail in a safe and friendly environment. During 2009 the club will run sail and powerboat courses aimed at both young and old.
Feel safe while out on the water as the club's rescue boats are always in attendance.
Get advice and help from existing members.

Carlingford Lough Yacht Club, Killowen Point, Rostrevor, Newry, Co Down BT34 3A, N. Ireland. Tel: 028 4173 8604, email: [email protected]

(Details courtesy of Carlingford Lough Yacht Club)

Have we got your club details? Click here to get involved

Published in Clubs

Tagged under

About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth